Severe Hurricane Helene Leaves Over 700,000 Without Power in Florida

More than 700,000 homes and businesses in Florida were without power on Friday morning after the remnants of Hurricane Helene, which had weakened to a tropical depression, swept through the state. This was a reduction from the over one million reported out of service earlier. The storm hit Florida’s Big Bend region with winds of up to 140 mph late on Thursday, marking it the first Category 4 hurricane to strike that area since historical records began in 1851.

Helene then advanced north into Georgia while maintaining hurricane strength for several hours. By 5 a.m. Eastern Time, the National Hurricane Center downgraded the storm to a tropical storm, and subsequently to a tropical depression. Despite the reduction in intensity, power outages persisted across the state. Pinellas County was the hardest hit, reporting 181,576 customers still without power as of Friday afternoon.

As of Friday afternoon, more than 3.5 million homes and businesses across Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina were experiencing power outages due to the storm’s strong winds and heavy rain. According to Gabe Hauari and Eric Lagatta, reporters at USA TODAY, the impact of Helene continued to spread across the Southeast with widespread tree damage, flooding, and adverse road conditions complicating recovery efforts.

In the Carolinas, Duke Energy reported that line workers, tree trimmers, and support staff had begun assessing the storm damage to restore power. The company indicated that flooding and road closures were impeding efforts in North Carolina’s western area and the Upstate of South Carolina.

Jason Hollifield, storm director for Duke Energy in the Carolinas, stated, “Helene’s winds were powerful and destructive and its rains were historic.” Acknowledging the extensive damage, he added that it could take days to restore power fully, despite having over 11,000 workers deployed.

Hollifield highlighted the company’s ongoing communication efforts to update customers with estimated power restoration times.

Duke Energy’s safety instructions encouraged customers to stay informed through local news and advised on safety precautions such as securing loose objects and reporting power outages through available communication channels. In preparation for the storm, Duke Energy pre-positioned equipment and personnel from various U.S. states and Canada to expedite the recovery.

Amid the ongoing recovery, the company continues to manage the rising water levels in the Catawba-Wateree River Basin, which are exacerbated by both the hurricane and previous heavy rainfall. Residents along water bodies are encouraged to observe safety notifications from local officials to mitigate dangers such as floating debris.

Duke Energy, one of the largest energy holding companies in the U.S., serves millions of customers across multiple states and is committed to a transition to clean energy. The company has invested in electric grid improvements and clean energy projects, aiming for net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.